Rob Friend Selected By The Chicago Fire In The Fourth Round Of The MLS Superdraft

Jan 17, 2003

Jan. 17, 2003

Kansas City, MO -
Former UC Santa Barbara men's soccer standout Rob Friend was selected by the Chicago Fire in the fourth round of the Major League Soccer Superdraft with the 33rd overall pick.

Friend's selection by the Fire makes him the first ever player who finished his career at UCSB to be selected to by an MLS team. He joins San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon, who played for the Gauchos in 1993, as the only other player from UC Santa Barbara to be affiliated with an MLS organization.

The Canadian Olympic Team player is currently under contract with the Moss Football Club of the Norwegian First Division, having signed with the team in late December.

Friend helped lead the Gauchos to the second round of the NCAA Tournament en route to setting UCSB's single season scoring record with 20 goals in 2002.